A fairytale Tory groom, but take a good look at the bridesmaids

Does David Cameron have what one Tory wife has described to me as the son-in-law syndrome?

Those of you with eligible daughters may recognise the type.

He is brought around for lunch of a Sunday. You suggest a quick drink at the local pub where he is first to the bar. He is a little too familiar. But what the heck, that is the way we are these days.

Back home for the tuck he is civility itself. There is the odd difficult moment: the slightly offkey joke you drag up after the third glass of red is the cause for looks of exasperation from the wife.

But the son-in-law-to-be is the great ameliorator, chortling away with a conspiratorial "You're a one, Pops" confidentiality, while casting the wife a "You're a treasure" glance, at having put up with this for so long.

There are giveaway moments. The perfect son-in-law is confronted by the most obvious sign of family adoration. He dutifully grins and pats. But was that just a hint of a kick to the backside of the ancient, if slightly pongy, family labrador? And why does this young man seem to spend so long in the bathroom?

But kiddo makes it through. He is deemed, by the women at least, to be son-in-law material, an expression used last week by the wife of a Tory MP who had just listened to David Cameron explain why he should be the leader of the Opposition. This woman who is happily married with sons, and who is certainly no patsy when it comes to the charms of ambitious young politicians, said: "He's definitely got sex appeal. Lord knows, I would be extremely happy if a daughter of mine came home with a bloke like him.

"As it is, I've got boys. But I would be very happy if they turned out like him."

Cameron did the desirable son-in-law thing brilliantly last week. He spoke without notes to Tory wives and partners. He has a full head of hair and is physically fit. He is sexy but is far too smart to play up to this. In another age he would have been the man the Tory girl would definitely not have said "No" to in the back of the Land Rover after the Hunt Ball.

To older Tory MPs who are now crowding round him, he is a younger, more successful and definitely more careful mirror of themselves. He is the boy you could have around without fear he would offend. He is Eton-educated but has the knack of mixing a spark of spirit with a note of deference.

He undoubtedly has a mind of his own and the vigour to press his point, but he would always bow to the superior wisdom of the person he is speaking to.

He conveys the air of being simultaneously modern and oldfashioned, thrusting yet respectful. Over the Sunday lunch of a steaming roast he would always pass the mustard test: Do you want French or English?

All this has left David Cameron miles clear of his rivals among the grassroots of the Tory Party. He is happily married and has children of his own. He is therefore not literally the son-in-law in waiting, but through his ability to convey an air of eligibility to huge numbers of Conservatives who are looking for someone to save the party, he has created a huge interest in himself.

But beware the perfect suitor. This is a country with the highest rates of divorce in Europe. Single parenthood is rife.

Most of us who have eligible daughters simply want them to have a happy life. It would be nice if they brought around something you could bounce on the knee. It would be great if it always ended happily ever after.

Sadly, this is not what happens. The boy who sparkles at the parental meeting may not always be quite as sold. All too often it is the company that he keeps that defines the true nature of what is on offer. In the last week I have heard much about this company of Cameron friends and political outriders.

There is talk of drugs and sexual behaviour of a questionable nature. There is suspicion of an arrogant elitist clique who, assured of their own superiority, have no moral compass. If Mr Cameron were not positioning himself for power then perhaps this would matter little. But he is.

These people to whom he clearly owes a debt of friendship or political loyalty will be the recipients of power and influence should he gain the leadership. They will be key to his decision-making. If the Tories take his hand in marital leadership then the bridesmaids will be these questionable people.

Cameron has captivated his party and has sparked interest among a wider audience. Women of a certain age who once would have dived in the sack with him now see him as the ideal son-in-law. He has won Tory hearts. If you gave him your daughter's hand there would undoubtedly be a fairytale wedding. But somehow you would have your doubts.

And months, perhaps even years later, when the telephone rang in the early hours, you would know it was her and you would also know that it was not good news.